Search

It is still a high challenge to develop a simple, sensitive and portable approach for bioassay in strong scattering medium. Herein, a photoacoustic (PA) device is developed for the detection of alkaline phosphatase (ALP) in serum with silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) as signal probe, without any requirements for expensive equipment, professional operation and pre-processing of real samples. ALP as an important disease marker could catalyze the breakdown of sodium L-ascorbyl-2-phosphate (AAP) into ascorbic acid (AA), thereby reducing Ag+ to AgNPs. AgNPs could generate strong PA signal under the irradiation of modulated 638-nm laser due to their localized plasmon resonance, and detected by the self-made portable PA device. Under the optimized experimental conditions, the present PA device exhibits excellent photostability and reproducibility with the relative standard deviation (RSD) of 2.2% at the concentration of 25 U L−1 ALP. Linear calibration graph is obtained within 5–70 U L−1 for ALP, along with a detection limit of 1.1 U L−1. This portable PA device is applied to detect ALP in serum samples, providing satisfactory spiking recoveries and competitive analytical performances with the current techniques. The PA-based analytical strategy obviously opens up a new avenue to the detection of disease-correlated biomarker in practice.

As a new generation of amide-type local anesthetics (LAs), ropivacaine has been widely used for pain management in clinical settings. Increasing evidence has shown that administration of ropivacaine causes cytotoxic effects and apoptosis. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms still need to be elucidated. In the current study, our results indicated that ropivacaine treatment caused a significant induction of heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) at both the mRNA and protein levels in human SHSY5Y cells. Levels of HO-1 mRNA and protein peaked at 1 h and 18 h, respectively, in response to ropivacaine treatment. Additionally, ropivacaine treatment enhanced HO-1 activity in a dose-dependent manner. Interestingly, we found that ropivacaine treatment induced phosphorylation of p38. Blockage of p38 phosphorylation with its specific inhibitor SB203580 or by transfection with p38 siRNA restrained ropivacaine-stimulated HO-1 expression. Additionally, we found that ropivacaine treatment promoted nuclear translocation of Nrf2 and amplified ARE promoter activity. Silencing of Nrf2 abolished ropivacaine-induced HO-1 expression. Notably, we found that inhibition of HO-1 activity promoted ropivacaine-induced production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), deletion of reduced glutathione (GSH), and release of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), suggesting that induction of HO-1 by ropivacaine acted as a compensatory survival response against ropivacaine.

Aims Gliomas are responsible for the majority of deaths from primary brain tumours. Sevoflurane showed inhibition effects on the tumor progression in vitro. However, whether sevoflurane could affect the stemness of glioma stem cells (GSCs) and the potential molecular mechanism have not been well elucidated. Main methods Effects of sevoflurane on cell viability, proliferation and invasion ability of glioma cells as well as tumor growth in vivo were assessed. Sphere formation assay was performed to evaluate the effect of sevoflurane on the stemness of GSCs. Effects of sevoflurane on mitochondrial function was evaluated by intracellular/mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (ROS) level and mitochondrial membrane potential. Expression levels of proliferation-related proteins, stemness markers and proteins in CaMKII/JNK cascade were measured by Western blot. Key findings Sevoflurane inhibited the viability, proliferation and invasion ability of glioma cells (U87MG and U373MG). Western blot showed that sevoflurane decreased the expression levels of proliferation and invasion-related proteins. Sphere formation ability of GSCs, expression levels of stemness markers and mitochondrial function were significantly suppressed by sevoflurane. Moreover, sevoflurane treatment significantly increased the Ca2+ concentration and stimulated phosphorylation of CaMKII, JNK and IRS1. Ca2+ chelator BAPTA-AM combined with sevoflurane synergistically inhibited colony forming ability and the expression levels of proliferation-related proteins and stemness markers. In addition, the in vivo study further confirmed that sevoflurane inhibited tumor growth via Ca2+-dependent CaMKII/JNK cascade. Significance The present study demonstrated that sevoflurane inhibited glioma tumorigenesis and modulated the cancer stem cell-like properties and mitochondrial membrane potential via activation of Ca2+-dependent CaMKII/JNK cascade.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of L-carnitine (LC) on follicular survival and ovarian function following cryopreservation-thawing and autotransplantation of ovarian tissues. ICR mice were divided into three groups: control; saline group (cryopreservation+autograft+saline); and LC group (cryopreservation+autograft+L-carnitine). The ovarian tissues from control group, saline group, and LC group were histological assessed. There were no significant differences in the percentage of morphologically normal primordial follicles between the LC group and the saline group. After 28 days of autotransplantation, apoptosis rates, plasma malondialdehyde (MDA), progesterone (P4) and estradiol (E2) concentrations, and follicular densities of grafts were evaluated. Apoptosis rate and the concentration of MDA in the LC group were significantly lower than those in the saline group. The concentration of E2 and follicular densities of grafts in LC group were significantly higher than that in saline group. LC inhibits follicle apoptosis and increases follicular survival and function of ovarian graft.

Although improvement in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) performance and the increasing success at achieving return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) have been possible in recent years, the survival and discharge rates of post-cardiac arrest (CA) patients remain disappointing. The high mortality rate is attributed to whole-body ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) induced multi-organ dysfunction that is well known as post-cardiac arrest syndrome. Post-cardiac arrest myocardial dysfunction and brain injury are the main clinical features of this complex pathophysiological process. Previous evidences have shown that volatile anesthetics, such as isoflurane, trigger a powerful and highly integrated cell survival response during I/R period in multiple organs, including heart and brain, which reduces I/R injury. This effect that called anesthetic-induced postconditioning can be shown when volatile anesthetics are administered after the onset of ischemia and at the time of reperfusion. Emulsified isoflurane (EIso) is a new anesthetic for intravenous administration, which is conveniently feasible outside operating room. Therefore, we hypothesize that EIso postconditioning could provide the cardiocerebral protection, and combined with therapeutic hypothermia as sedative agent could produce enhanced cardiocerebral protection, which can result in significant improvement of neurologically intact post-cardiac arrest survival. We consider that it would become a feasible, safe and efficient cardiocerebral protective intervention in the prevention and alleviation of post-cardiac arrest syndrome, which would also improve the outcomes after CA.

We investigated how upland and paddy japonica rice responded to phosphorous (P) fertilizer under two cultivation methods. The upland rice Zhonghan 3 and the paddy rice Yangfujing 8 were both grown under moist cultivation (MC, control) and bare dry cultivation (DC) with three P levels, low (LP, 45 kg/hm2), normal (NP, 90 kg/hm2) and high (HP, 135 kg/hm2). As P level increased, grain yields of both upland and paddy rice increased under DC. There were no significant differences in grain yields between HP and NP for either rice, although upland rice slightly increased and paddy rice slightly decreased in grain yield. Under DC at LP, Zhonghan 3 showed a higher head milled rice rate and better appearance, cooking and eating qualities than at HP or NP. Yangfujing 8 was similar to Zhonghan 3 except that Yangfujing 8 had better appearance quality at NP. Under MC, Zhonghan 3 had a higher head milled rice rate at LP and better cooking and eating qualities at NP. Yangfujing 8 was similar to Zhonghan 3 except in appearance quality. DC improved head milled rice rate and appearance quality of both upland and paddy rice, and cooking and nutrient qualities of paddy rice. Compared with paddy rice, upland rice had better processing, nutrient and eating qualities. The results suggest that upland and paddy rice respond differently to cultivation method and phosphorus level.

For evaluating the differences between upland and paddy rice (Oryza sativa L.) as well as interaction between cultivation methods and nitrogen (N) levels, the upland rice cultivar Zhonghan 3 (japonica) and the paddy rice cultivar Yangjing 9538 (japonica) were planted in moist cultivation (MC) and bare dry-cultivation (DC). Each cultivar had 3 N-application treatments (100 kg−1 for low N, 200 kg−1 for normal N, and 300 kg−1 for high N) in MC and DC conditions. Compared with normal N treatment, HN reduced grain yield for both cultivars under DC and for the paddy rice cultivar under MC; whereas, it promoted the yield of upland rice under MC. With the increase of N application rate, the percentage of chalky grain and the chalkiness of upland rice increased under DC, however, the 2 indices were the largest in the normal N treatment and the smallest in the high N treatment under MC; for paddy rice, the percentage of chalky grains and the chalkiness showed a declined trend under DC but an in increased trend under MC. Under both MC and DC, the protein content enhanced in both upland and paddy rice when more N was applied, whereas the amylose content declined. The highest breakdown viscosity and the lowest setback viscosity were observed in upland rice treated with normal N and in paddy rice treated with low N. Compared with MC, DC improved the appearance quality and the nutrient quality of upland rice, and there was no significant variations in other quality indices between upland and paddy rice. The upland rice had better nutrient quality but poorer appearance and cooking qualities than paddy rice. The cooking and nutrient qualities showed lower correlations to the leaf N content in upland rice than paddy rice. These results suggest that the response of upland rice to cultivation method and N level is in great difference to that of paddy rice.

The differences between upland and paddy rice (Oryza sativa L.) as well as the interaction between cultivation methods and nitrogen (N) levels were evaluated. The upland rice cultivar Zhonghan 3 (japonica) and the paddy rice cultivar Yangjing 9538 (japonica) were field grown under moist cultivation (MC, control) and bare dry-cultivation (DC). Each cultivar had 3 N-treatments under either MC or DC, that is, low N supply (LN, 100 kg ha−1), normal N supply (NN, 200 kg ha−1), and high N supply (HN, 300 kg ha−1). Compared with NN, HN reduced grain yield for both upland and paddy rice cultivars under DC and for the paddy rice cultivar under MC, whereas, it increased the yield of upland rice under MC. With an increase in N level, both upland and paddy rice showed higher productive tillers, more or fewer spikelets per panicle, and lower percentage of ripened grains under MC and DC. However, the seed-setting rate reduced to a greater extent in paddy rice than in upland rice. There was no significant difference in 1000-grain weight for the upland rice among the 3 N levels, whereas, the 1000-grain weight reduced with the increase in N level in the paddy rice. Compared with MC, DC had no significant influence to grain weight of upland rice, however, a significantly negative effect was observed in paddy rice. DC increased the seed-setting rate in both cultivars, with more increase in upland rice than in paddy rice. The upland rice had less number of adventitious roots, lower N absorption ability, lower productive tillering ability, fewer panicles, fewer spikelets per panicle, and lower grain yield than paddy rice. However, upland rice showed more rapid increase in adventitious roots and a slower decline in leaf N content from jointing to heading, and a faster decline in chlorophyll content (SPAD value) after anthesis. In addition, upland rice had a weak negative response to water stress and a strong positive response to the N level. The responses to cultivation methods and N level varied largely between upland and paddy rice.

Objective To detect the expression of glial fibrillary acid protein (GFAP) and taurine transporter (TauT) in the retinal Muller cells in high glucose culture with taurine and to explore the influence of glucose on the taurine transporting, and the possible protective effects of taurine on Muller cells in early diabetic retinopathy. Methods The Muller cells from the rat retina were cultured in high glucose, and GFAP and TauT expressions were detected in the cells treated with different doses of taurine by immuocy-tochemical fluorescein staining and Western blotting. Results High glucose enhanced the expression of GFAP and decreased the expression of TauT in Muller cells. Taurine decreased the up-regulation of GFAP in the cells which was induced by high glucose; 0. 1–10 mmol/L taurine increased the expression of TauT in Muller cells. Conclusion Taurine can inhibit the changes in Muller cell resulted from high glucose.